足以

• Pinyin: zú yǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 足 = foot pictograph, extended to mean sufficient; 以 = person + dot, meaning by means of

Meaning

Sufficient to; enough to; adequate to accomplish something.

A formal expression indicating something is sufficient or adequate to achieve a result or reach a standard. Often used in written Chinese and formal speech. Followed by a verb phrase indicating what can be accomplished.

Examples

1. 他的表现足以证明他是这个职位的最佳人选，没有人比他更合适了。 His performance is sufficient to prove he's the best candidate for this position — no one is more suitable.
2. 这些证据足以让法官相信被告有罪，案件基本已经尘埃落定。 This evidence is enough to convince the judge of the defendant's guilt; the case is essentially settled.
3. 一个小小的善举有时候足以改变一个人的一生。 A small act of kindness is sometimes enough to change a person's entire life.

Usage Guide

Context: written, formal speech, argumentation

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这足以说明问题。(This is sufficient to illustrate the issue.)
• 他的能力足以胜任这项工作。(His abilities are adequate for this job.)

Don't Say

• 这个苹果足以。(Incomplete — 足以 needs a following verb phrase)

Origin & History

Compound of 足 (enough, sufficient) and 以 (to use, by means of). Together they express having enough to accomplish something.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal